Should JK Rowling allow the characters in the Harry Potter series to become more romantically involved?

No

8 of 19

by Julie Bruce

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I wouldn't put any pressures or constraints on J.K. Rowlings creativity whatsoever. She has a brilliant imagination and her stories are just fine the way they are. She has just enough romance in the book and more romantic involvement for the characters is not necessary. It simply isn't the focus of the story and since it doesn't do much to advance the plot there is no need for the characters to become more romantically involved than they are.

Also, Harry is eleven years old when the story begins so he along with most of his classmates at Hogwarts aren't really thinking about romance at this age. Harry is more focused on the drastic change taking place in his life, and the revelations that every new day at Hogwarts brings, to care about girls. Harry is still stinging from the realization that his parents were murdered and he was robbed of a normal childhood when he first arrives. He has an extreme sense of amazement and joy at discovering his magical heritage, as well as anger at the loss of his parents.

It isn't long before Harry discovers Lord Voldemorts plot to obtain the Sorcerer's Stone and is soon involved in the first of many fights for his life with his nemesis. There isn't a need for Harry to have a love interest at this point and he doesn't really show much interest in girls until his third year when he begins to notice fellow a young Ravenclaw Quidditch player Cho Chang.

Of course Ron and Hermione are introduced from the start. It is established early on that their relationship will be different from the friendship she shares with Harry. There is an awkwardness between the two of them as well as a hostility at times. They are literally at war with each other throughout most of the book. Later on they will learn to leave each other just as passionately as they fight. This doesn't come until nearly the end of the series in the very last book.

While it is clear that the two of them love each other, they only just get the courage to admit it in the last book. Ron finally does what Hermione has been wanting him to do since the Winterball in "Goblet of Fire." He finally claims her as his girlfriend and makes sure everyone knows she is off limits.

Harry never gets to pursue a relationship with Cho Chang. There is too much emotional awkwardness with her former boyfriend being recently killed by Voldemort and Harry being the only witness to the murder. She is sad at times and cries through her first date with Harry. They become angry with each other and Harry says hurtful things to Cho. Eventually Harry begins to forget about Cho and his attention turns to Ginny.

Ginny and Harry are the power couple of the series. This match was destined to take place ever since we learn that Ginny has a crush on Harry in "The Chamber of Secrets." It is only too perfect that Harry ends up saving her life at the end of this book. For a short period of time Harry is allowed to be happy with Ginny until he is given the task of destroying the horcruxes. Ginny and Harry's romance is cut short due to the necessity of his mission. Harry does not want to endanger Ginny so once again he does a selfless act and puts aside his own desires in order to accomplish something greater.

I did my own private dance of glee when Ron and Hermoine finally admitted how they felt for each other, as well as when Harry first starts to date Ginny. But the romance aspect of the book, as I said is not the main focus. It's not that JK Rowling should "allow" the characters to do this or that, rather she should only describe romances as much as they are relevant to the storyline. The relationships are all important in the fact that the characters feeling so strongly toward each other, helps them overcome great obstacles. The importance of family and loyalty of good friends is emphasized much more than romantic love in these books because it's a story of adventure not love.

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